Online Electrical Engineering Degree

[Nukeme3]

Just going to throw my two cents in here.

My first round at university was about 10 years ago for Electrical Engineering from a brick & mortar (University of Cincinnati/Miami University). Didn't stick with it due to work/life time conflicts.

Even so, I've made my career in electro-mechanical automation & controls engineering over the past decade, primarily in the manufacturing industries (automotive, e-commerce, & material handling systems). I did receive a vocational certificate in engineering technologies & robotics to get me started. Still, most of the information needed for my jobs has come from reading technical manuals, experimentation, and seeing enough other devices fail to understand the root cause of common problems.

I fully agree that a bachelor's in a related field will open many more doors (I've been turned down for jobs I'm overqualified for simply because I didn't have the checkbox marked, hence my BSCS). But importantly, it's been a rewarding and lucrative career.

Electrical Engineering degrees are more theoretical and are better suited for research/development/design work of electrical systems, electronics, and RF communications. A heavy focus on HOW these these things work.

Electrical Engineering Technologies is more based on hands-on technologies related to electrical engineering. Microcontrollers, circuit building, maintenance, repair, and the practical hands-on skills of working on and with electrical systems. There is a heavy focus on WORKING with these things. Although you still get the core theory, there is more emphasis on the practical knowledge of the systems.

An ABET accredited - ENGINEERING degree will be needed if you need a Professional Engineer (PE) license to work in some capacities (aerospace design, electrical power distribution design, etc.), but otherwise you can still have a very interesting career with an Engineering Technologiy degree (or even with less).

I say this not to deter anyone from pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree, but instead that there is an enormous demand for competent electrical / controls engineers across the manufacturing industry as long as you have the skills to perform the work.